The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1887-02-03

<aHolnef step ana une inquire enUereu tne room.
The door closed instantly behind it. The
sound of heavy body struggling against the
partition outside followed, and then suddenly
ceased.
The intruder turned and violently grasped
the handle of the door, but recoiled at a quiet
voice from the bed.
"Drop that, and come here"
He started back with an exclamation. Tho
sleeper's eyes were wide open; the sleeper's
extended arm and pistol covered him.
"Silence! or I'll let that candle shine
through you"
"Yes, captaini" growled the astounded and
frightened halfbreed "I didn't know you
were here"
Lee raised himself and grasped the long
whip in his left hand and whirled it round
his head
"lYuI you dry up?"
The man sank back against the wall in
silent terror.
"Open that door now-softly"
Manuel obeyed with trembling fingers.
sNed," said Lee in a low voice, "bring him
in here-quicl.n
There was a slight rustic, and Falkner ap-
peared, backing in another gasping figure,
whose eyes were starting under the strong
grasp of the captor at his throat
"Silence," said Lee, 'all of YOU"
There was breathless pause. The sound
of door hesitatingly opened in the passage
broke the stiffness, followed by the gentle
voice Of Mrs. Scott
as anything the matterg'
Lee made slight gesture of warning to
| Falkner Of menace to the others. "Every-
things the matter" he called out cheerily.
"Ned's managed to half pull down the hodse
| trying to get at something from my saddle
| bags"
II hope he has not hurt himself" broke in
another voice mischievously.
"Answer, you clumsy villain," whispered
Lee, with twinklmg eyes.
"rm all right, thank you, responded Fall-
ner with unaffected awkwardness.
! There was slight murmuring of voices
and then the door was heard to close. Lee
turned to Falkner
"Disarn that hound at.d turn him loose out
side, and make no noisc. And you, MANUEL
| tell him what his and your chances are if he
shows his black face here again"
Manuel cast q single, terrified supplicat.
| ing glance. more suggestive than words, at
his confederate, as Falkner showed him be-
| fore him from the room. The next moment
they were silently descending the stairs.
"May go too, captain!" entreated Manuel.
II swear to God"-
1Shut the doorl" The man obeyed.
"Now, then" said Lee, with broad, graft
fed smile, laying down his whip and pistol
within reach and comfortably settling the
| pillows behind his back, "we'n have q quiet
confab. A sort of old fashioned talk, Ell!
You're not looking well, Manuel. You're
drinking too much again. 1t spoils your
complexion"
"Let me go, captain" pleaded the man,
amboldened by the good humored voice, but
not near enough to notice a peculiar light in
the speakers eye.
you've only just come, Manuel, and at
considerable trouble, too. Well, what have
you got to says What's all this abouti
What are you doing heres'
The captured man shuffied his feet ner-
vously, and only uttered an uneasy laugh of
coarse discontinue
Il see. You're bashful. Well, I'll help
you along. ComeI You knew that Hale
was away and these women were here with
out man to help them. You thought you'd
find some money here, and have your own
way generally, chs"
The tone of Lees voice inspired him to
confidence; unfortunately, it inspired him
with familiarity also.
"Ireekoned had the right to a little fun
on my own account, cap. l reckoned ez one
gentleman in the profession wouldn't inter-
fere with another gentleman's little game, "
he continued coarsely.
"Stand up"
"Wot fora"
"Up. 1 sayl"
Manuel stood up and glanced at him.
"Utter cry that might frighten these
women, and by the living God they'll rush
in here only to find you lying dead on the
floor of the house you'd have polluted.
He grasped the whip and laid the lash OF
it heavily twice over the rullian's shoulders
Writhing in suppressed agony, the man fell
fmploringly on his knees.
"Now, listenl" said Lee, softly twtrling
the whip in the air. II want to refresh youl
memory Did you ever learn, when you
were with me-before 1 was Obliged to kici
you out of gentlemen's company-to breal
into a private house? Answerl"